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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-18 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Climate Change and Environment Committee DATE OF MEETING: April 18, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Natalie Goss, Manager Policy and Research, 519-741-2200 ext. 7648 PREPARED BY: Hilary Irving, Sustainability Advisor, 519-741-2200 ext. 7137 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward(s) - All DATE OF REPORT: April 2, 2024 REPORT NO.: DSD-2024-158 SUBJECT: CorCAP 2.0 Part 2 TransformWR RECOMMENDATION: For Discussion REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this report is to engage the Committee on CorCAP 2.0 Part 2, which shifts focus from corporate emissions to community-based emissions. Staff intend to have a structured discussion regarding TransformWR, with an emphasis on the 23 actions assigned to the City of Kitchener as Lead, identifying areas of focus to ensure staff resources are deployed where they can make the greatest impact. This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make climate-positive choices. BACKGROUND: - Zero), has focused on Corporate GHG Emissions and Part 2 will shift focus to Community GHG Emissions, while Part 3 will turn to Climate Adaptation. Community emissions will/have been addressed through the Kitchener Utilities Clean Energy Transition Strategy, as well as TransformWR. TransformWR was completed through the ClimateActionWR collaborative, made up of local municipalities and townships, REEP Green Solutions and Sustainable Waterloo Region. The document lays out 78 actions across 6 transformative changes to guide the Region of Waterloo towards our community GHG reduction goals of 50% by 2030 (upgraded from initial commitment of 30% by 2030) and 80% by 2050. Of these 78 Actions the City of Kitchener was appointed to Lead (23), Collaborate (5), Participate (13) or Support (11) 52 of them. Council endorsed TransformWR th on June 14 2021. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. REPORT: The table below outlines the TransformWR actions that the City of Kitchener was assigned as a Lead, Collaborator, Participant or Supporter. Focusing on actions the City is named as Lead, Staff wish to gather input from the Committee where efforts may best be deployed to make the greatest impact (e.g., greatest reduction in community GHG emissions). Work has already begun on many of these actions. Details can be found on the TransformWR Progress Dashboard. Table 1 - City of Kitchener TransformWR Actions Transformative Change Action Commitment Action 1.1.1: Plan a network of major active transportation corridors across cities and townships, that will provide high-volume Lead priority travel for walking, cycling, and rolling to key destinations across the region, as well as access to public transit. Action 1.1.2: Plan for and build neighbourhood connections to the active Lead transportation network. Action 1.1.3: Implement further policies across the region to prioritize active Lead transportation in road and trail design and 1. By 2050, most trips reconstruction. are taken using active transportation, with the Action 1.1.4: Identify and implement policy support of a robust public and program opportunities to de-incentivize Lead transit system. driving. Action 1.1.5: Design and maintain active transportation infrastructure to ensure year- Lead round access, safety, and comfort for people of all abilities. Action 1.2.2: Ensure priority access for walking, cycling, and rolling to transit stations and bus Collaboration stops. Action 1.2.4: Connect people to intercity, multimodal, and emerging transportation Lead solutions. Transformative ChangeActionCommitment Action 1.3.1: Launch micro mobility systems (bike, e-bike and e-scooter-sharing systems) Lead in Waterloo Region communities. Action 1.3.2: Expand and innovate on existing programming (e.g. Travelwise) that supports employers and employees in making active Participant transportation and transit the easy and preferred choice for commuting and business travel. Action 1.3.3: Create community active transportation hubs to provide customized Collaboration support, education, training, and resources. Action 1.3.4: Develop active transportation and transit programs that target equity-Lead deserving communities. Action 1.3.5: Post-pandemic continued adoption of work from home and flexible work schedules Participant for reducing trips or shifting trips to off-peak times. Action 1.4.1 Increase the efficiency of Support commercial goods movement. Lead their daily needs by walking, cycling, or rolling. Action 1.5.2: Implement design standards for new developments to build for walking, Lead cycling, and rolling to be the primary mode of travel. Action 1.5.3: Site key community services, health facilities, subsidized housing, etc., in central areas where they can be easily accessed using Participant the active transportation and public transit systems. Action 2.1.1: Complete a region-wide electric Collaboration vehicle strategy. 2. By 2050, remaining personal and commercial Action 2.1.2: Plan and begin to implement a vehicles are zero transition to zero emission vehicles for emissions vehicles. municipal fleets, working towards a goal of at Lead least half of municipal vehicles being zero emissions by 2030. Transformative ChangeActionCommitment Action 2.1.3: Plan and begin to implement the transition of commercial vehicle fleets to zero Participant emissions vehicles. Action 2.1.5: Develop and implement an electric vehicle public outreach and communication Support strategy for personal vehicles. Action 2.2.1: Provide more public electric vehicle charging stations in public spaces, commercial Participant spaces and other places visited by the public. Action 2.2.2: Require all new residential parking spaces, and a portion of new non- Lead residential parking spaces, to be constructed as "EV-ready". Action 2.2.3: Investigate and implement local opportunities to address barriers to adding Support electric vehicle charging infrastructure in existing multi-residential buildings and homes. Action 2.2.4: Investigate hydrogen vehicle trends Support and refuelling infrastructure options. Action 3.1.10: Create a one-window service to support energy-related upgrades for homes and Collaboration* businesses. Action 3.1.2: Implement a public literacy campaign to explain and promote the adoption of Participant electric heat pumps for space and water heating in residential and commercial buildings. Action 3.1.3 Switch home and business heating Participant and water heating off of fossil fuels. 3. By 2050, businesses and homes no longer use fossil fules for space Action 3.1.4: Investigate and plan for full heating and cooling, and replacement of natural gas with other, non- Lead hot water heating. fossil fuel sources, such as a combination of renewable natural gas and hydrogen. Action 3.1.5: Identify and implement necessary supports to transition anyone still using fuel oil, or Support propane for heating to other fuel sources by 2025. Action 3.1.6: Install renewable energy generation Participant in business and residential buildings. Action 3.1.7: Support households on lower Support* income with building envelope improvements, Transformative ChangeActionCommitment electrifying space and water heating, and renewable energy generation. Action 3.1.8: Identify opportunities to incentivize Support landlords to perform energy efficiency upgrades. Action 3.1.9: Offer innovative loans for energy-related residential and commercial Lead building upgrades. Action 3.2.3: Develop region-wide building standards to encourage and support zero- Lead carbon development of all new buildings in the region. Action 3.2.4: Incorporate energy planning considerations into the development Lead application review process. Action 3.2.6: Build capacity and expertise in the local design and construction sector to build net-Support zero carbon buildings. Action 3.2.7: Show leadership by building net- Lead zero carbon in the public sector. Action 4.1.3: Support the use of compost/organics collection programs for all Participant commercial buildings. 4. By 2050, Waterloo Region uses less, Action 4.2.1: Implement community waste Lead wastes less, and no reduction and circular economy campaigns. longer disposes of organic matter in Action 4.2.4: Reduce unnecessary building landfills. Lead demolitions and construction waste. Action 5.1.1: Continue to develop and enforce robust land use planning protections for Lead 5. By 2050, Waterloo prime agricultural land. Region has a thriving local food system built on Action 5.3.1: Support the reduction of GHG local farming and food emissions from livestock, and develop methane Support production and capture and energy production from manure. processing that feeds Action 5.4.2: Provide a variety of low GHG food much of our community. options plant-based dining options in local Participant restaurants, grocery stores, and catered events. Action 6.1.1: Establish metrics to measure 6. By 2050, Waterloo progress on increasing equity through GHG Lead Region has leveraged reduction initiatives in our community. reducing GHG emissions to increase equity, Action 6.1.2: Incorporate education on prosperity and resiliency sustainability justice and equity into climate Participant for all. action planning. Transformative ChangeActionCommitment Action 6.1.3: Fund a climate justice committee led by community members from Lead equity-seeking groups. Action 6.1.4: Provide specialized resources/support to organizations on prioritizing Support equity while planning their transition. Action 6.1.6: Build reciprocal relationships between Indigenous groups and local municipalities and climate action organizations to Participant ensure GHG reduction work is done in equitable ways that respect the land and traditions of Indigenous groups. Action 6.1.8: Apply an equity lens to all the Participant actions in this transformation. Action 6.3.2: Implement a public literacy campaign for homeowners and property owners Support on renewable energy systems. Action 6.3.3: Implement a literacy and awareness campaign for commercial scale renewable Collaboration energy generation. Action 6.3.4: Evaluate how to identify and protect optimal areas for industrial-scale renewable Participant energy generation. Action 6.5.1: Bring community organizations and local government together to collectively Lead identify and communicate advocacy priorities to multiple levels of government. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports Cultivating a Green City Together: Focuses a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city; enhancing & protecting parks & natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future; supporting businesses & residents to make climate-positive choices. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial implications at this time. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: th June 14 2021 DSD-2021-94 Community Climate Action Plan TransformWR Strategy